Robin Williams, adored comedian and actor, passed away in his home on Monday in an apparent suicide. According to his media representative, Williams had been battling a deep depression lately.

Robin Williams was a deep man who was able to portray a wide range of characters throughout his career. Many of these lovable characters are anchored into our hearts and imaginations and have left indelible impressions upon our childhoods. We can’t help but think that Robin must have deposited a bit of himself into each of these darling characters to make them so convincing and memorable.

As the world grieves the loss of this talented soul, we remember all the laughter and unexpected bits of inspiration that he brought to our lives. Here are some deep life lessons that we learned from some of Robin Williams’ most beloved characters:

Dead Poet’s Society: According to Williams’ character, Prof. John Keating, language was developed for one endeavor: not to communicate, but to woo women! We learned the power of poetry and were inspired to seize the day!

Hook: You are never too old to reclaim your youthful spirit.

Fern Gully: Batty Koda provided some comic relief while we were reminded of the importance of preserving the planet.

Aladdin: Admit it, the Genie was your favorite character. In Genie’s futile attempts to persuade Aladdin to tell Jasmine the truth about Aladdin’s true identity (street urchin extraordinaire turned lucky wish recipient), he taught us that honesty is always the best policy!

Mrs. Doubtfire: Sometimes you have to go above and beyond to do what it takes to spend more time with your family. Also, panty hose is really difficult to put on, no matter who you are.

Jumanji: It’s never too late to finish what you started!

Jack:We all have limited time on this Earth, the way to make the best of it is to always retain a sense of wonder and optimism.

Good Will Hunting:Some people are rough around the edges, but they could be a gem (or genius) underneath it all. A little love (and therapy!) can sometimes bring them around.

What Dreams May Come: Dogs really do go to heaven.

Patch Adams: Laughter is definitely the best medicine.

Happy Feet: It’s okay to be different; in fact it’s what makes you special! Robin’s character, Ramon, is one of the first penguins to accept that being different is okay and we love him for that!

Night at the Museum: Even great men have their weaknesses… and most likely it is a woman 😉

August Rush: “You know what music is? God’s little reminder that there’s something else besides us in this universe, a harmonic connection between all living beings, every where, even the stars.” –Maxwell “Wizard” Wallace

Old Dogs: Money and success don’t bring you happiness; family is everything.

Rachel Sipe

Rachel is a Staff Writer for the Daily Runner and a student at Regent University. She hails from Virginia Beach but frequently daydreams of living on every continent of the world (sometimes Middle-Earth and Westeros find their way in there too). Rachel has many things in common with Winnie the Pooh: soft, cuddly, loves a boy, can't resist sweets, and when the going gets tough, it helps to sit on a log and think, think, think.